3. New Zealand Goes Long

A nearly 2,000 mile trail opens on the coast

With 1,980 miles of new trail, the Te Araroa, or Long Pathway, well deserves its name.
Photo: iTravelNZ/flickr

On December 3, New Zealand’s Te Araroa—The Long Pathway—officially opened. The trail starts at Cape Reinga at the tip of the North Island and winds 1,980 miles through forest, farmland, volcanoes, and classic Alpen scenery all the way to the southernmost tip of the South Island. One note: This is Kiwi country, where hiking a trail might include river traversing and bushwhacking.